Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
“Happy New Year.”
Spencer stood there blinking with his mouth open, wondering if he’d imagined that. No way. No, he’s not—
“Cole?”
“Spence, open the door.”
His hands shook so hard it took three tries to unhook the chain. Cole pushed his door all the way open, and Spencer’s knees became weak.
Spencer wanted to sob when Cole pulled him into his chest and wrapped his strong arms around him.
“Oh god, Cole.”
“It’s okay, baby. I’m here.” Cole squeezed him until Spencer had no more doubts. “You don’t have to hurt anymore.”
He barely had time to bury his face in Cole’s provocative, leathery scent before his warm mouth covered his and he slipped his eager tongue inside.
Spencer should’ve been embarrassed at the loudness of his moan, but he didn’t care. He was in Cole’s arms again. His front door slamming shut jerked him out of his shock. Spencer leaned back, mouth open, panting to catch his breath.
“Cole, what are you doing here?”
Cole opened his eyes. “You said you wished I was here… so here I am.”
Spencer wished he did possess that kind of power.
“How long are you in town?” Spencer asked, hoping his voice was stronger than he felt.
“I’m here until you say.”
“Oh, it’s gonna be that easy, huh?”
“For you, yes… for me, not so much.”
They were still holding on to each other for dear life, but their voices were hushed and reverent.
“Meaning?” Spencer pushed his nose against the collar of Cole’s shirt.
“Meaning it’s easy for you because you have me at your mercy. Not for me because my staff figured out that I’ve fallen in love, and it’s become sufficient ammunition.”
Spencer couldn’t stop the flood of tears. He needed this to be real and true so badly.
“I’m here for as long as you’ll have me, Spence. I didn’t want to leave you when I did, but I had to be in the office to do what I needed so I could have this time.”
“I’m glad you did.” He caressed Cole’s jaw. “But you didn’t have to threaten to fire anyone to come here, did you?”
“No. I had to grovel, beg, and plead.”
Spencer smiled because he couldn’t imagine a man as rich as Cole having to beg for anything.
“My personal staff works such hellish hours, and they never complain. They’re as good to me as they were to my brother. So, for Christmas—along with a sizable bonus—I gave my driver and security team a week off for the first of the year.” Cole pinched the bridge of his nose. “Most of them had already made plans.”
Spencer wanted to feel bad for Cole’s staff, but he couldn’t stop the immense joy spreading through him.
“Wow, they do sound great, especially for canceling.”
Cole scoffed. “They’re goddamn vultures. I had to agree to some serious bribes. I’m talking fifty-yard-line Super Bowl tickets. My head of security demanded fifth-row center seats to like ten Broadway shows so he can impress some lady he’s dating, and, uhh, I think my driver said he wants a weekend in Paris for him and his daughter, fully paid.”
Spencer couldn’t pick his bottom lip up.
“Oh, yeah, and put all their kids through college.”
“Fuck!”
“It’s okay. I don’t care. I would’ve done anything they asked, as long as they agreed to let me come.” Cole talked and went on about his crazy staff, but all Spencer could do was keep thanking the universe that he was there and in his arms.
“I was supposed to work remotely from home next week so they could have their well-deserved time off. And up until a few days ago, that was fine with me. I had nowhere I wanted to be anyway.”
“And then…” Spencer could hear his heart beating in his ears.
“Then I met you.” Cole kissed him slow and full of yearning. “And I moved heaven and earth to get to you tonight.”
Spencer wrapped his heart around Cole, letting his incomparable love heal his broken spirit.
“I had to be here to give you this, sweetheart.”
Cole reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a gold Burbank Jewelry box topped with a neat red bow.
“Merry Christmas, Spencer, and Happy New Year.”
He trembled, staring at the box for a long moment, scared of what he’d find inside. Scared of what this all meant.
“Open it.” Cole rested his lips against Spencer’s temple. “I stayed up two nights finishing it.”
Finishing it? Spencer was intrigued.
He lifted the lid and almost choked to death on his own breath.
He had to blink away the tears blurring his vision before he could take in the beauty of his gift.
It was a literary bracelet. But not the onyx one on display in the store. This bracelet was so very different. The beads were a shade of blue he’d never seen before, and the owl was the same except shiner, sexier.
“The literary collection is mine, Spence. I designed it. I was already in the process of making this one, but I stopped because I wasn’t sure of the color I wanted to dye the spacer beads.”